Latch and lock mechanism for rocker type file cabinet



Feb. 24, 1959 A. L. HIGBERG LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR ROCKER TYPE FILE CABINET Filed May 15, 1957 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.

ARTHUR L H/GBERG v x lllll Illlllll IIIII HIS ATTORNEY Feb.'24, 1959 A. L. HIGBERG LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR ROCKER TYPE FILE CABINET Filed May 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR. ARTHUR L. HIGBERG ms ATTQRIIEY allll II l lI III Feb. 24, 1959 A. L. HIGBERG I LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR ROCKER TYPE FILE' CABINET Filed May 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ARTHUR L. H/GBERG HIS ATTMPNEY 2,875,011 LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR ROCKER TYPE FILE CABINET Filed May 15, 1957 Feb. 24, 1959 A. L. HIGBERG 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

I ARTHUR L I-l/GBERG HIS ATTORNEY LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR ROCKER t TYPE FILE CABINET Arthur L. Higher-g, Spencerport, N. Y., assignor to Yawman and Erbe Manufacturing Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1957, Serial No. 659,383 9 Claims. (Cl. 312218) This invention relates to a latch and lock mechanism for a rocker type file cabinet of the general class in which a compartment ordrawer is pivotally supported within the housing or cabinet and swings from a vertical or closed position to a horizontal or open position in which files or papers can be inserted into or removed from the compartment, and it has forits purpose to afiord a practical and eflicient construction by which each compartment is automatically latched when in its closed position and can be readily unlatched for opening, the latch mechanism including means for effectively preventing opening of the compartment when it is locked.

More particularly, theinvention has for its purpose to afford a structure that enables placing a lock on the body of the cabinet or housing, in conjunction with a latch mechanism which functions under normal operating conditions during the day, for instance when opening and closing the compartment, while by operating the lock which is located upon the housing, the latch mechanism is incapacitated and the compartment securely locked in the housing until released by a key operation or the like.

A more particular purpose of the invention is to afiord an eflicient structure including a latch actuator on the compartment governing a spring operated latch which cooperates with a keeper plate on the housing which is vertically movable when the lock is operated, the latchbeing operatively connected to the actuator by devices including a part that is movable when the latch and keeperplate are elevated by the lock, to a position in which the actuator cannot be depressed until the lock is released.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford latching elements on both sides of the rocking compartment so that the latter is locked at both sides and cannot be sur: reptitiously entered or opened when the compartment is locked, locking of the compartment being effected through a movable latch only at one side of the compartment and which is governed by an actuator that is normally free to move and operate the parts, and is held against movement when the locking mechanism on the housing is operated to efiect upward movement of the keeper plate and latch.

Tothese and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specifications.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating a two compartment file cabinet constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated;

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in, the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation looking toward the rear face of the front wall of the compartment, and showing the parts in normal or latched position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in position in which the actuator is retained against downward movement;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, partially broken away and somewhat enlarged, showing the position of the actuator and cooperating parts when the actuator is moved downwardly to release the latch;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 5,.looking in the direction indicated, the bar 13 being omitted for clearness;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated, and showing the movable keeper plate and latch elevated by pushing inwardly the key-controlled lock on the housing;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the key-controlled lock released, and with the movable keeper plate and latch in their lowered position for the normal latching operation; o f

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating the latch elevated slightly above the keeper plate in unlatched position to permit opening the compartment;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view on line 12-12 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on line 13-13 of i Fig. 12 looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view on line 14-14 of Fig. 3 looking 'in the direction indicated;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 9 and 10, with the compartment moved away and in open position, and

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the latch and its connection with the operating means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, 1 .designates the housing or cabinet proper, while 2 designates the rocker type compartments which are pivotally mounted within the housing to swing from their upper or closed position to horizontal or open position as usual in this type of construction, by any suitable pivotal linkage, and 3 designates a key controlled or other form of lock operated by a key 4 or otherwise, and mounted at the front upper portion of the cabinet or housing, preferably at the right side thereof to govern locking of the compartments. With this arrangement,

the rocking compartments can be operated during the day for conventional filing, being held in closed position by a latch mechanism which is quickly released for opening the compartment, and at the end of the day, the compartment or compartments are locked against opening by simply pushing in a key controlled locked mechanism or barrel which holds the compartment securely in closed position and prevents opening until a key is inserted for turning the lock, or the lock is otherwise released, as will. be described more fully hereinafter.

.Referring to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, 5 designates the interior surface of the front wall of the rocking compartment, upon the outer surface of which is mounted actuator 6, see Fig. 8, which is depressed. to release the latch, and held in its upper position by a spring 7. Pivotally mounted on the reduced inner end 8 of the actuator is a latch bar 9 that is lockingly mounted in a suitable strap or support 11 fastened to the front wall, and the outer end of the latch bar 9 is arranged to engage a keeper plate 12 that is fixedly supported in the housing as shown, see Figs. 4 and 5. engaged with the keeper plate 12, and when the actuator 6 is depressed to release the rocking compartment, the latch bar 9 is rocked on its support 11 and its outer end elevated away from engagement with the keeper plate and the compartment thus released at one side. A latch Patented Feb. I 24, l 1 9 The latch bar 9 is normally ator 6 and arranged at the other side of the housing for latching and unlatching the compartment, which is held positively against movement when locked by interposing a stop portion in ,the path of movement of the actuator Gas will now be described. 1

13 designates a laterally slidable bar that is mounted in the path of the reduced end portion 8 of the actuator 6 and includes a depressed portion orrecess l4, and a stop portion 15 adjacent thereto for a purpose that will appear presently. The bar 13 is .slidable and movable in a generally horizontal direction beneath the actuator, and has at one end a straight surface 16 slidable on a cylindrical support 17 mounted on'the compartment, and at its opposite end an inclined ,surifaceld that is slidable upon the cylindrical support .19 jfixed to the front wall of the compartment, while '21 designates the end-of the bar 13 having a horizontal surface resting upon the support 19,

When thebar 13 is moved laterally its one endpartakes of a generally horizontaland slightly upward movement, which movement is brought about by va connecting bar 22having a combined sliding and pivotal or rocking movement in a strap or support 23 fixed to the front wall, the inner end of 'thebar 22having aninclined edge 24 that rests upon alug or car 25 bent from the aforementioned bar 13 and arranged at an angle thereto as shown in Figs. to 7. Thus the bar 2?. rides between ,bar ,13 and lug 25, and as the actuator enters recess 14 of bar 13 and pushes downwardly against'bar 13, it causes an upward movement of the right'hand end of bar 13, referring to Fig. 6, and a corresponding lateral and dowrr ward movement of'the opposite endof the bar resulting in a lowering of the adjacent end of the connecting bar 22 and elevating the outer end of bar 22, and with it the latch-that will now be described.

The bar 22 has formed at its outer end at its upper edge a slot 26, and adjacent thereto a bent wall 27 terminating in a right angle bent flangeZd which underlies and engages a lug 29 bent from the wall of the latch which consists of a U-shaped plate 31 that is supported in a suitable guideway in the front wall of the compartment, and actuated downwardly by a spring 32, which normally maintains the latch3ll engaged with the keeper 33 mounted upon keeper plate 34.

Assuming the compartment to be closed and latched by latch 31 when the actuator 6 is depressed, it causes bar 13 to move laterally'to the right of Fig. 6, thus raising the outer end of connecting bar 22 and with it the latch 31, until the latch is clear of the keeper and the compartment can be opened while holding the actuator down.

The operation thus far provides for the normal closing and'opening, or latching and unlatcning of the compartment, and in order to lock the compartment against opening until released by a key or other lock mechanism, the keeper plate 34 is arranged for vertical movement within a-suitable guideway in the housing as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In its normal position for latching and unlatching operations, the keeper plate 34 rests against'a-stop 35 and is moved upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9 by an angle arm 36 that is pivoted at 37 and has one end engaging a recess in the keeper plate and itsopposite end connected by 'a rod 38 to the barrel 39 of a key-controlled lock that is slidable'in a housing 41 and provided with a spring actuated plunger 42 that seats in a recess or pocket 43 in the housing as shown in Fig. 9 when the compartment is lccked. To unlock the compartment, a key 4 is inserted into the lock to withdraw the plungerdz from the recess 43, whereupon the spring 44 which is connected at one end to the angle lever 56 and at'its opposite end to an anchor or .hook 45,:returns the angle lever to its position of'Fig. l0 and pushes the lock barrel 39 to its outermost position, in which position the compartment'can be opened and'closed mechanism is provided also under the control of the actuat will. To lock the compartment, it is necessary only to push inwardly the outer end 46 of the lock barrel until plunger 42 springs into the recess 43.

When the compartment is thus locked, the latch 31 and lug 28 which elevates the latch for unlatching, are both raised to the position shown in Fig. 9, and in this postion of the lug 28, the connecting bar 22 is elevated at its outer end beyond the normal latching position and its inner end is correspondingly lowered to move the slidable bar 13 to the position shown in Fig. 6 so that its stop portion or surface 15, is immediately under the reduced portion 8 of the actuator, and the actuatorcannot be depressed when the parts are in such position. This movement of bar 13 serves elfectively'to hold the'actuator in its uppermost position against downward movement, and while in such position, the compartment cannot be opened.

The compartment thus cannot be unlocked, due to the holding of the actuator in .its uppermost position, until the lock 46 is released by turning a key therein, or otherwise releasing the vertically ,slidable keeper .bar, permitting it to resume its normal lowered position .in

,which the latch can be elevated sutliciently to release the compartment ,by the normal unlatching operation of depressing the actuator.

While the invention has been described with reference to the details of construction herein illustrated, .it is not. confined to the particular embodiment shown, and this application is intended to cover such modifications ,or departures as may come within the purposes of the-improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a fixed keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a vertically movable keeper plate at the other side of the cabinet, a pivoted latch bar on the rocking compartment having 1 one end engageable with said fixed keeper plate, a depressible actuator on the rocking compartment pivotally connected to the other end of the latch bar, a keycontrolled lock on the cabinet operatively connected to said vertically movable keeper plate and acting tomove it vertically, a spring controlled latch on the compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, and

operative connections between the actuator and said latch, said connections including a laterally slidable'b'ar in the path of the actuator and having a stop portion preventing movement of the actuator, and a connecting'bar pivoted at a point between its ends and having a relative pivotal and sliding connection with said slidable bar at one end and its opposite end engagingand elevating said' latch.

2. Ina rocker type cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a fixed,

keeper plate at one side of the cabinet,-a vertically movablel keeper plate at the other side of the cabinet, a depress ible actuator on the rocking compartment, a latch'b arrpivoted on the rocking compartment and pivoted to'the actuator and engageable with said fixed keeper plate, a spring controlled latch on the compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, operative connections between said actuator and said latch, .and lock controlled means acting to retain the actuator against movement when the movable keeperplate is elevated.

3. In a rocker type cabinet including alrockingqcornpartment, the improvement which consists in, a spring actuated latch on the compartment, a vertically movable keeper plate on the cabinet with which said latch cooperates, an actuator on the compartment, operative connections between said actuator and latch, and lock controlled means connected to said keeper plate for elevating the same, said operative connection between the latch and actuator including a portion movable into the path of the actuator when the movablekeeper plate is elevated and acting to prevent movement of the actuator.

4. In a rocker type cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a spring actuated latch on the compartment, a vertically movable ecper plate on the cabinet with which said latch cooperates, an actuator on the compartment, a bar slidable across the path of the actuator and including a recess permitting downward movement of the actuator and a stop portion preventing such movement, cylindrical supports on which said bar slides laterally, one end of the bar having a horizontal surface resting on a support and an adjacent inclined surface resting against said support and movable upwardly thereon to efiect lateral sliding of the bar, said bar having a spaced lug at its other end, a connecting bar pivoted at a point between its ends and having its inner end engaging under said lug with an inclined edge acting to effect lateral movement of the slidable bar when the actuator is moved downwardly, the opposite end of the connecting bar having a lug which underlies said latch and lifts it upward to release the latch, and lock controlled means on the cabinet connected to the keeper plate and operating to move the stop portion of the slidable bar under the actuator when the latch and keeper plate are elevated actuator against movement.

5. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a vertically movable keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a key controlled lock on the cabinet having a spring actuated plunger, a housing in which said lock is slidable and having a recess to receive said plunger, a spring controlled angle arm having one end connected to said lock and a vertically slidable keeper plate connected to its other end and adapted to be lifted by the angle arm when the lock is in its innermost position, a spring controlled latch on the rocker compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, an actuator on the rocker compartment, and operative connections between the actuator and said latch, said connections including a bar having a stop portion that is moved into the path of the actuator when the lock is in its innermost position.

6. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a vertically movable keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a. key controlled lock on the cabinet operatively connected to said keeper plate and operative to move the latter, a spring controlled latch on the rocker compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, an actuator on the rocker compartment, and operative connections between the actuator and latch including means governed by said lock and movable keeper plate acting to retain the actuator against movement.

7. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a vertically movable keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a key controlled lock on the cabinet operatively connected to said keeper plate and operative to move the latter, a

and thereby retain the spring controlled latch on the rocker compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, an actuator on the rocker compartment, and operative connections between the actuator and latch including a laterally slidable bar in the path of and operated by the actuator, said slidable bar having a stop portion and a recess alternately positionable in the path of the actuator, a pivoted connecting bar having one end underlying said latch and its other end having a pivotal and sliding connection with said slidable bar and operating to move the stop portion of the slidable bar under the actuator when the latch and keeper plate are elevated and thereby retain the actuator against movement, and lock controlled means on the cabinet connected to the keeper plate for elevating it.

8. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a vertically movable keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a key controlled lock on the cabinet operatively connected to said keeper plate and operative to move the latter, a spring controlled latch on the rocker compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, an actuator on the rocker compartment, and operative connections between the actuator and latch including a laterally slidable bar in the path of and operated by the actuator, said slidable bare having a stop portion and a recess alternately positionable in the path of the actuator, a pivoted connecting bar having one end underlying said latch and its other end having a pivotal and sliding connection with said slidable bar and operating to move the stop portion of the slidable bar under the actuator when the latch and keeper plate are elevated and thereby retain the actuator against movement, a housing in which said lock is slidable and having a recess and a spring controlled plunger carried by the lock and engageable with said recess.

9. In a rocker type file cabinet including a rocking compartment, the improvement which consists in a vertically movable keeper plate at one side of the cabinet, a key controlled lock on the cabinet operatively connected to said keeper plate and operative to move the latter, a spring controlled latch on the rocker compartment engageable with said movable keeper plate, an actuator on the rocker compartment, operative connections between the actuator and latch including means governed by said lock and movable keeper plate acting to retain the actuator against movement, a housing in which said lock is slidable and having a recess, and, a spring-controlled plunger carried by said lock and engageable with said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,073,274 Millice Sept. 16, 1913 1,929,095 Hotchings Oct. 3, 1933 2,532,942 Reimer Dec. 5, 1950 2,810,616 McClellan Oct. 22, 1957 

